Target says glitch in its system caused delays at checkout registers at some stores

MINNEAPOLIS – Target Corp. said a glitch in its system caused delays at checkout registers at some of its U.S. stores but it wasn’t due to a data security issue or a hacker.

Customers across the country took to social media to report long check-out lines Sunday night due to registers not working.

The Star Tribune newspaper reported that Target employees tried to placate waiting shoppers by handing out $3 coupons in some stores that bore an apology for the delays. At a store in downtown Minneapolis, a security guard warned entering shoppers that some of the registers were down. Employees handed out free cookies and bottled water along with the coupons to customers as they waited.

The Minneapolis-based discount retailer did not elaborate on the nature of the problem, and it wasn’t immediately clear how many stores were affected.

“Target has identified an issue impacting checkout at some of our U.S. stores,” the company said in a statement Sunday night. “The glitch is causing delays at some checkouts, but is not in any way related to a security issue. We apologize to anyone impacted, and we are working with guests in stores where the issue has not yet been resolved to accommodate their needs.”

In an update later Sunday night, the company said it had been able “able to restore our check-out process.”

Target is still trying to regain customers’ and investors’ trust following a data theft late last year that led to the breach of millions of debit and credit card accounts, as well as a botched expansion into Canada. Shareholders at the company’s annual meeting last week elected all 10 nominees to the company’s board, but a rise in dissenting votes against several key directors showed that Target still has a lot of work ahead to shore up confidence in the investor community. Target is overhauling its security and technology departments and systems.